Graffiti: Art or Crime

An online journal about visual art, the urban landscape and design. Mary Louise Schumacher, the Journal Sentinel's art and architecture critic, leads the discussion and a community of writers contribute to the dialogue.

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I started writing a comment about this, but it turned into a very long piece. You can read it at the URL above, but in a nutshell I tried once again to look at this from the perspective of the artist while trying to maintain an "objective" view of the history surrounding graffiti. The only thing I still wonder, is why is it illegal? I mean those whole trains in Milan and Hamburg are just so beautiful - real artworks. Entire industries are built off of this "illegal" activity, and I think it is all so funny. Twelve cameras aren't going to stop graffiti artists any more than state regulators are going to keep fund-managers from dipping into their customers' money or failed corporations from becoming innovative. Of course, the regulation is very important, otherwise there would be no sport in it at all...So fix those windows (but not because of the sprayers, but because of the coming gas crisis!) Read my entire response here: http://ionary.org/graffiti-gentrification-and-the-broken-window-theory/

This issue is in direct relation to our need to find a way to live together. Perhaps Alderman Zielinski doesn't like the look of "graffiti" art. It may remind him of a lifestyle or culture that he does not care for, but as a Bay Citizen it want to see these wall lined with art. All kinds of art! Not just that created with a spray can, but yes, including that art created with a spray can.

On one hand this proposed application process will create jobs and stimulate the economy, but in terms of free expression, regulating which murals have the right to existence on private property obviously goes against the idea of free expression!

There is NO WAY you can settle the argument of whether graffiti is art or not. Also, there is no need (outside of political or personal gains) to call graffiti, "art." There are at least two distinct ways to determine whether graffiti as a form can be art. One says yes and one says no. And they are both right! For a clear explanation please read my full response on my blog: http://www.existentialdrifter.blogspot.com

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